Raman spectroscopic analysis of pigments and substrata in prehistoric rock art

The application of Fourier-transform Raman spectroscopy to the analysis of pigments in samples of prehistoric cave art is reported. Despite the limitations of a restricted colour palette used by the artists, the nondestructive identification of natural mineral pigments is accomplished and the unique information provided by the Raman technique is highlighted. The observed deterioration in cave art sites caused by local environmental, biochemical and geochemical changes is a cause for concern among conservationists and historians; the role of Raman spectroscopy in the identification of chemical products of biodeterioration, in particular, can assist in the elucidation of agencies which may be responsible for site instability. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.